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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Atrial Fibrillation
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Atrial Fibrillation
by George Daniel, Sep 11, 1999 12:00AM
How safe is Procainamide (Pronestyl) for conversion to sinus rhythm with or without follow-up of electroconversion?
A side effect described in the literature is lupus. How often does this happen and does this become full blown lupus with kidney involvement or is it a transient drug induced reaction that ceases entirely when the med is dicontinued?
Procainamide is containdicated in AV block 2 and 3. I have incomplete right bundle branch block. Can procainimide aggravate a bundle branch block the same as an AV block?
How often does CHF occur with Procainamide?
I appreciate any helpful response or references.
A side effect described in the literature is lupus. How often does this happen and does this become full blown lupus with kidney involvement or is it a transient drug induced reaction that ceases entirely when the med is dicontinued?
Procainamide is containdicated in AV block 2 and 3. I have incomplete right bundle branch block. Can procainimide aggravate a bundle branch block the same as an AV block?
How often does CHF occur with Procainamide?
I appreciate any helpful response or references.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB, Sep 12, 1999 12:00AM
It is pretty safe in patients without heart failure or kidney failure. Lupus is infrequent and usually resolves within a few weeks of stopping the medication. Procainamide would not aggravate a right bundle branch block, but if you have other underlying conduction system disease it could aggravate that. CHF does not typically occur in patients without underlying CHF to begin with.
